Headlight-control switch



AApril 5,1927. f 1,623,937

J. GlZEWSKl HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH Filed Feb. 16, 1924 v LVl/ JOHN GlzewsKx.

@Hm m Patented Apr'rs, 1,9227.

UNITED STATES JOHN GIZBWSKI, 0F DRIV, COLORADO, ASSIGNOB Uf' ONE-HALF l 1,623,931 PATENT OFFICE@ y 0F DENVEB, OOLORADO.

mDLIGHT-CONTBOL SWITCH. i

,animan ma nbrury is, im. semi no. 693,164.

connect the samethat the operation of the headlights is not affected if the normal headi ht switch is positioned for dim lighting i: the headli hts.- Y

A still furt er object of the invention-is to provide a. switchfo'r this purpose which may :be very readily and cheaply produced, which is simple in its construction and operation and which will be a general improvement lin the art. V

'These and other. objects I attain by the construction Yshawn in the aecompan ingdrawin wherei for the ur ofi ustrationgishown iillpreferredrenlibediment of my invention and wherein f Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a switch constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same in the bright` position;

Figure 2l is a similar view.showing the Vsame in the dim position; y t

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of F' re 2; Y

igure 4 is a diagramatic view, both switches being shown in the dim position. I

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a casing having a top plate 11 formed to provide overhangingilanges 12 the urposeof which will hereinafter appear. rough this top plate an aperture is formed, as at 13, through which extends the reduced 'stem 14 of a plunger 15,'the juncture of the reduced stem with the 'plungervproviding a shoulder 16 which when it comes into y ment "with the top plate 11 limits the movement of the plunger in this direction. The upper end of of the vehicle are preferabtlgprovided with the extension is preferably provided with an e ent plate 17 adapted lfor contact by the oot, this plate being held in position 'itherebetween., The lower end of by a securing element 18 engaged with the extension. l

Opposed side walls of the casing 11, have mounted thereon insulation 19 disposed upon the interior face of the walls and the' walls are provided at spaced intervals with aligned pairs of openings 20. and 21. The insulation 19 is provided in alignment with these openings upon its inner surface with contact elements 22, connectors 23 extending through the insulation and providing `a. common means for attaching the contacts 22 and for electrically connecting lead wires 24 to these contacts, the lead wires extending'throughf openings 20 or 21 as the case may be.

Each contact 22 consists of a substantially U-shaped member having the ends vof the arms 25 hthereof bent inwardl against t e pun r 15 this un r bein preferably circuai incross psectigoen. Thil;r 'arms 25 are of spring metal so that they bring a constant'pressure bear upon the plunger and insure a proper contact with the plunger. The plunger 15 consists of insulating material and is rovided at spaced intervals with a pair of insulating. bands 26 and 27 which completely encircle the plunger and are adapted for coaction with to engage pioiirs of contacts aligned with the openings y vor 21 respectively. The contact band 26' is so spaced from the shoulder 16 that when the shoulder is engaged with Vthe cover plate -11 this band connects the contacts 22 aligned with the openings' '20 completingx a circuit is provided with a reducedextension 28 about which' is dis an insulating washer 29. 'lhe op lower end ofthe casingV has seated t ereon an insulating plate 30 and between the washer 29 and plate 30 a spring 31 isy disposed which normally maintains the e lplunger plimger with the shoulder 16 in engagement with the plate 11. Thereducedextension 28 ofthe plunger serves to limit the downi ward movement of "the plunger when the band 27 comes into alignment with the conf tacts 22 which are with the openings 21] so that when this plunger ie' depressed toA its' fullest extenty these contacts are electrically connected.- l In the useof the device therfoot boards F an openingthro which casing v10 may be extended until' the plate 11 comes into engagement with the upper surface thereof.

Securing elements are thendirectd through the openings of thc flange of the plate 11 to secure the casing in position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in Figure 4 of which I have disclosed a circuit including aswitch constructed in accordance with my invention and in which the battery is designated by B, the headlights by H, and the ordinary lighting switch by S. The blade of the switch S coacts with contacts C1 and C2 which are in turn connected with binding posts P1 and P2. In the circuit illustrated the lighting system is that in which in one position of the switch a resistance is inserted in the circuit to restrict the amount of current passing through the illuminating elements of the headlights H, this resistance being indi# cated at R and connecting the binding post P2 with the contact C2 of the switch S. The binding post P1 is directly connected with the post C1'. Thus when the switch is engaged with the contact C1 there is no resistance in the circuit and the circuit is to the bindingpost P1. When the switch is positioned with the contact C2 the resistance is in the circuit and the circuit is to the binding post P2. This binding post P2 is connected by a wire 32 with a wire 33 connecting similar contacts of the illuminating elements of the headlights, the opposite contacts thereof being grounded. The contact P1 is connected by a wire 34 with one binding post each of the upper and lower pairs of binding posts as indicated. The other binding post of the upper pair is connected by a wire 35 with the wire 33. The other binding post of the lower pair is connected bya wire 36 with the contact C2. The operation of the circuit just described is as follows: Assuming the switch S to be engaged, with the contact C1 and the foot-operated dimmer switch, generally indicated at D, to be in its normal or elevated position and the circuit is as follows: the battery at one side to the ground, the opposite side of the battery to the switch, to contact C1, binding post P1, wire 34, contact 22 of the upper pair, band 26, a second Contact 22, wire 35 to the wire 33 and through the headlights to the'ground. If the switch D is now changed in its position and moved to the lower position as by pressing the foot thereon, the circuit is altered as follows: from the binding post P1 to a contact 22 of the lower pair, band 27, a second contact of the lower pair, wire 36, contact C2, resistance R, binding 'ost P2, wire 32 and wire 33 to headlig ts and round.

It will, therefore, be seen that with the headlight switch S in the bright position the switch D is operative to change the se lection of the switch S from bright to dim. With the switch engaged with the contact )the same time a device is C2 there is uo How of current from the switch S to the switch D and accordingly this switch is inoperative lo effect a change in selection. If the switch D is in the bright or elevated position, it will be seen that the switch S is effective to effect a change of selection by the switch D. The circuit with the switch S in connection with the'contact C1 being f given above, this forming the bright light circuit and if the switch is associated with the contact C2, as hereinbefore stated, n0 current is fed to the switch D1 and the circuit is accordingly through the resistance R, wire 32, wire 33 to the ground. If the switch D be in the lowered position so that the band 27 connects its associated contacts, then the switch S is inoperative` to effect a change of selection for the reason that regardless of the position of the switch S the circuit is always through the resistance R. It will, therefore, be seen that in effect a lighting circuit is produced having therein two switches each having a bright and a dim position, each switch being effective t0 change the selection of the other switch while the other switch is in the bright position and ineffective to change the selection of the other switch while this other switch is in the dim position.

The advantage of this arrangement will be obvious to all who drive automobiles having dimmer switches thereon. It is fairbright lights to his dim lights, the first operator being under the impression that his lights were brightly illuminated. This mis- -take is a frequent occurrence and often results in disastrous dazzling of passing drivers. With the construction shown this is impossible for'it is only necessary that one of the switches be in the dim position and the circuit 'will remain dimmed regardless of manipulation of the second switch. At rovided which is readilymanipulated by'v t e foot to give a temporary dimming of the lights while running under bright lights and a device which may be very readily applied to the vehicle. While the illustrated structure of the switch D is preferred it will, of course, be obvious that this structure is capable of modification and it will likewise be obvious that the circuit illustrated only shows the switches in use in one form of lighting circuit and that these switches are capable of' similar use in other forms of circuits. This being the case I do not limit myself to the specific structure or arrangement hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim In a foot operated dimmer switch, a casf having its ends reduced, one of said reduced fonds extending tlirouglthe opening of the wall for engagement by the foot, the corresponding end of the plunger abutting sald l end wall to limit movement of the plunger in one direction, the other of said extensions engaging the opposite end wall of the casing to limit movement of the plunger in the opposite direction, 'a spring surrounding the last named reduced end of the plunger -and extending between the last named end wall of the casing and the adjacent end of the plunger, insulating panels within the casing at opposite sides of the plunger, said plunger being of insulating material and spaced bands of conducting materlal surroundmg `tl1e plunger,"one of said bands being operi ative to connect one of said pairs of contacts when the plunger is at the first named limit of its movement, the other of said bands connecting the other of the pairs of contacts when the plunger is at the last named limit of its movement, spaced pairs of opposed contacts carried by said panels and embodying terminal portions partially embracing the plunger to for.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN GIZEWSKI.

form guides there- 

